Every day, the world generates roughly 2 quintillion bytes of location-based data—from satellite images of river catchments to sensor networks in city streets. The problem is that turning this flood of geospatial information into practical decisions requires a workforce with a rare combination of skills: the ability to capture and interpret spatial data, apply advanced statistics, handle massive datasets with cloud computing and machine learning, build predictive models, and visualise results using tools like virtual reality. Currently, too few people are trained across all these areas to unlock the full economic and societal value of location data. This Centre for Doctoral Training will produce PhD graduates who can bridge that gap. Working with 40 partners—including government agencies, engineering consultants, infrastructure operators, and technology companies—students will tackle real-world challenges in smart cities, energy systems, structural monitoring, public health, and social inclusion. If successful, the programme will create a pipeline of specialists who can turn raw location data into actionable insights for infrastructure resilience, transport planning, and environmental management—systems that quietly underpin daily life but rarely get noticed until they fail.
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On a daily basis huge amounts of geospatial data and information that record location is created across a wide range of environmental, engineered and social systems. Globally approximately 2 quintillion bytes of data is generated daily which is location based. The economic benefits of geospatial data and information have been widely recognised, with the global geospatial industry predicted to be worth $500bn by 2020. In the UK the potential benefits of 'opening' up geospatial data is estimated by the government to be worth an additional £11bn annually to the economy and led to the announcement of a £80m Geospatial Commission. However, if the full economic benefits of the geospatial data revolution are to be realised, a new generation of geospatial engineers, scientists and practitioners are required who have the knowledge, technical skills and innovation to transform our understanding of the ever increasingly complex world we inhabit, to deliver highly paid jobs and economic prosperity, coupled with benefits to society. To seize this opportunity, the Centre for Doctoral Training in Geospatial Systems will deliver technically skilled doctoral graduates equipped with an industry focus, to work across a diverse range of applications including infrastructure systems, smart cities, urban-infrastructure resilience, energy systems, spatial mobility, structural monitoring, spatial planning, public health and social inclusion. Doctoral graduates will be trained in five core integrated geospatial themes: Spatial data capture and interpretation: modern spatial data capture and monitoring approaches, including Earth observation satellite image data, UAVs and drone data, and spatial sensor networks; spatial data informs us on the current status and changes taking place in different environments (e.g., river catchments and cities). Statistical and mathematical methods: innovative mathematical approaches and statistical techniques, such as predictive analytics, required to analyse and interpret huge volumes of geospatial data; these allow us to recognise and quantify within large volumes of data important locations and relationships. Big Data spatial analytics: cutting edge computational skills required for geospatial data analysis and modelling, including databases, cloud computing, pattern recognition and machine learning; modern computing approaches are the only way that vast volumes of location data can be analysed. Spatial modelling and simulation: to design and implement geospatial simulation models for predictive purposes; predictive spatial models allow us to understand where and when investment, interventions and actions are required in the future. Visualisation and decision support: will train students in modern methods of spatial data visualisation such as virtual and augmented reality, and develop the skills on how to deliver and present the outputs of geospatial data analysis and modelling; skills required to ensure that objective decisions and choices are made using geospatial data and information. The advanced training received by students will be employed within interdisciplinary PhD research projects co-designed with 40 partners ranging from government agencies, international engineering consultants, infrastructure operators and utility companies, and geospatial technology companies; organisations that are ideally positioned to leverage of the Big Data, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that are predicted to be the key to "accelerating geospatial industry growth" into the future. Throughout their training and research, students will benefit from cohort-based activities focused on group-working and industry interaction around innovation and entrepreneurship to ensure that our outstanding researchers are able to deliver innovation for economic prosperity across the spectrum of the geospatial industry and applied user sectors.
Alistair Ford (Co-Investigator)Doreen Sandra Boyd (Co-Investigator)Emilio Porcu (Co-Investigator)James Goulding (Co-Investigator)Jeremy Crampton (Co-Investigator)Jian Shi (Co-Investigator)Paolo Missier (Co-Investigator)Rachel S. Franklin (Co-Investigator)Stuart Barr (Co-Investigator)Stuart Marsh (Co-Investigator)Terry Moore (Co-Investigator)
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